12Biblical ALLUSIONS

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12 Biblical ALLUSIONS DAVID & GOLIATH OLD TESTAMENT • Meaning: overcoming an insurmountable GARDEN OF EDEN obstacle • Meaning: a beautiful place • Bible Reference: I Samuel 17—The story of the • Bible Reference: Genesis 2:8-25—God made the young shepherd boy, David, standing up to the Garden of Eden a perfect place for Adam and Eve. Philistine giant, Goliath. David slew him with a • Sample Sentence: The plush hotel was like the stone from his slingshot. This describes the story Garden of Eden. of someone “smaller” or weaker beating a giant, someone bigger or stronger. TAKING A BITE OF THE APPLE • Sample Sentence: Watching the freshmen team • Meaning: giving in to temptation beat the varsity team was a David-and-Goliath • Bible Reference: Genesis 3:1-7—Tempted by match-up. the serpent, Eve took fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and ate it and then gave it to Adam. After they ate of the forbidden fruit, God cast them out of the Garden of Eden. NEW TESTAMENT • Sample Sentence: She really wants to skip class HOLY GRAIL but knows it’s like taking a bite of the apple. • Meaning: something unattainable DON’T KNOW HIM FROM ADAM • Bible Reference: Matthew 26:27; Mark 14:23; • Meaning: don’t know someone at all Luke 22:20. The cup or bowl Jesus used at the Last Supper is the Grail referred to in Arthurian legend. • Bible Reference: Genesis 1-2—God created Adam, It was believed to have miraculous powers. Many the first man; no one else existed yet. The phrase set out on quests in search of the Grail. Anything references someone unknown or unrecognizable. can be known as a Holy Grail. • Sample Sentence: Even though he claimed we’d • Sample Sentence: Looking for the perfect house met before, I didn’t know him from Adam. is like searching for the Holy Grail. CAIN & ABEL WALK ON WATER • Meaning: enmity between brothers (or people) • Meaning: achieving the impossible • Bible Reference: Cain, the first-born son of Adam • Bible Reference: Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; and Eve was a farmer. Abel, his younger brother, John 6:16-24—The disciples were crossing over was a shepherd. When Abel offered a better by boat at night when they saw Jesus walking on sacrifice than Cain, Cain became jealous and killed the water. When someone is hailed as amazing, his brother. whether sarcastically or literally, they may be said • Sample Sentence: Like a Cain-and-Abel to be able to “walk on water.” competition, the larger company swallowed up • Sample Sentence: The way everyone talks about the smaller one. Jenny, you’d think she could walk on water.

©2014 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. • www.SmekensEducation.com 12 Biblical ALLUSIONS, continued PATIENCE OF JOB • Meaning: having perseverance or patience during adversity • Bible Reference: James 5:11—Job was a faithful follower of God, targeted by Satan. God allowed Satan to inflict tragedy and illness on Job. Throughout his ordeal, Job remained patient and faithful. In the end, God restored Job and gave him a new family. • Sample Sentence: She must have the patience of Job to put up with 27 preschoolers!

JUDAS • Meaning: betrayer, backstabber • Bible Reference: Matthew 10:4—Judas Iscariot is the disciple who betrayed Jesus. Judas disclosed Jesus’ whereabouts to the chief priests and elders for thirty pieces of silver. Being a Judas is to be a betrayer of someone who trusts you. • Sample Sentence: After working for the company for 10 years, transferring over to the competition would make him a real Judas.

GOOD SAMARITAN • Meaning: showing kindness to a stranger • Bible Reference: Luke 10:25-37—According to this parable, a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan all encountered a traveler who had been beaten and left for dead. Only the Samaritan helped. Based on the parable, a Good Samaritan is a generous person who is ready to provide aid to people in distress without hesitation. • Sample Sentence: She was a Good Samaritan when she showed kindness to the new girl.

PRODIGAL SON • Meaning: someone wastefully extravagant • Bible Reference: Luke 15:11-32—A parable about a son who ran off with his inheritance, wasting all of it. But when he returns home, his father runs to greet him. A prodigal is anyone who leaves a situation and then returns to it, hoping for forgiveness and acceptance. • Sample Sentence: After leaving our company to work for the competition, the “prodigal son” returned wanting his old job back.

DOUBTING THOMAS • Meaning: doubting what others say is true • Bible Reference: John 20:24-28—One of the twelve disciples of Jesus, Thomas was not present when the risen Christ appeared to the other disciples. He said that he would not believe it happened unless he saw Jesus for himself. Jesus appeared to him a week later and told him to stop doubting and believe. A doubting Thomas is anyone who doesn’t believe without seeing firsthand. • Sample Sentence: After missing the end of the game, she was such a doubting Thomas, she didn’t believe it when her friend said they’d won.